The Muppets resident guinea pig… singing sensation Beaker is back with his own take on the classic ballad, Dust in the Wind. Complete with a running commentary from the usual suspects.

via Fanboys of the Universe

DC Entertainment’s blog TheSource is all atwitter with big news! Diane Nelson, President, DC Entertainment named DCE’s new executive management team, including new co-publishers of DC Comics and a Chief Creative Officer, as well as heads of Sales/Marketing/Business Development and Finance/Administration. The new senior executive “dream team” reports directly to Nelson.

Jim Lee (former Editorial Director/Overseer of WildStorm Studios and fan favorite artist) and Dan DiDio (former Senior Vice President and Executive Editor) have been named Co-Publishers of DC Comics (replacing outgoing Publisher Paul Levitz).

In this statement from the new Co-Publishers, they said…

Our mission is to reinvent DC Comics to prepare it for the challenges and opportunities in this quickly changing world. With the Co-Publisher structure, it’s going to allow us to be in many places at once, both literally and metaphorically; to better position DC as one of the great creative engines which fuels and defines so much of our world’s Pop Culture while making sure we continue to address and redefine what makes DC’s characters so great.

I’m most familiar with Jim Lee from his work on the X-Men back in the 90s (I was a BIG fan at the time) and his Hush storyline from Batman (which I picked up for his name). He lost me on his All Star Batman and Robin (didn’t like the modernizing of their meeting). I hadn’t realized he was responsible for the Wildstorm Universe, so if he was behind the cataclysmic events there then I’m not sure about doing a big happy dance over this.

As to the choice of DiDio, I’m not really all that pleased. He was at the helm during the current upswing in unnecessarily violent deaths, tortures and maimings designed to drive sales. Killing off or forever changing characters that readers have loved for years.

I’m most excited by the news that superstar writer Geoff Johns, will serve as Chief Creative Officer of DC Entertainment. Johns is responsible for many of DC’s biggest wins – including the current event Blackest Night, the successful relaunches of JSA, Green Lantern and Teen Titans (which rocked until he left it) as well as 3 of the best Smallville episodes in its long history.

When describing Johns, Nelson said…

Geoff Johns has an unparalleled creative mind and a huge heart. He brings a level of enthusiasm, passion and optimism to every discussion I have with him that is so motivating. He will be instrumental in establishing the tone and culture of creative risk and business growth that we intend for DC Entertainment. And he will ensure the integrity of how we bring these characters and stories to fans across every entertainment platform.

With Geoff Johns’ proven skill at taking a character or characters with a rich and beloved history and managing to enrich it by interweaving exciting new elements into a complicated mythos without disturbing what has been written in the past, Johns is a wonderful choice for this position. I’m positively thrilled! As long as he keeps writing too. But that shouldn’t be a problem according to this statement from Johns himself…

Under the leadership of Jim and Dan, I’ll continue writing and giving my creative input as I have been in comic books. But expanding onto that, Diane’s asked me to take our comic book world, embrace it (as I do) and use it to lead the creative charge on bringing it all to film, toys, television, video games, animation and beyond. The Justice Society appearing on Smallville was only the beginning.

Additionally, John Rood has been named Executive Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Business Development, and Patrick Caldon will serve as Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration.

via TheSource

All the X-blogs are abuzz with talk of the the big X-Men Event to follow on the heels of Necrosha… Second Coming crosses over into X-Men (Uncanny & Legacy), X-Factor, X-Force and New Mutants. The X-Men have their hands full with the technarch-infected mutant-hating/hunting AI entity known as Bastion back yet again to bedevil them. PLUS it looks now that A Girl Named Hope is over and she and Cable are back from the future, the Phoenix is back too. but is Hope Summers really Jean? If so, what, reincarnated? Hope WAS born in Alaska… could she be Madelyne Pryor’s or some Summers/Grey genetic experiment of Mister Sinister’s – he DID come after her before Rogue killed him (and his seemingly short-lived return as Miss Sinister). And if the girl known as Hope Summers IS the Phoenix, does that mean Bishop was right to want her dead? Is she fated to save or damn mutankind? Only time and these stories will tell.

All will unite. One will rise. One will die. One will lead. One will sacrifice. Your thoughts? Mine after the Marvel teaser images…

All will unite – the disparate x-teams will come together. One will rise – will Hope be the return of Phoenix or Dark Phoenix (was Bishop right)? One will die – I’m guessing Cable. One will lead – not sure if it is Emma or Mags – I think Scott may be too broken by his son Nathan’s death (if I’m right) and need some time. One will sacrifice… hmmm Not sure what the sacrifice will be… Maybe Nathan gives his life to save Hope’s… any other theories?

With this crossover running through all the major X-Titles: Uncanny X-Men, X-Men Legacy, New Mutants, X-Force and even the usually somewhat unplugged X-Factor, it is a MAJOR event. And with longtime x-foe Bastion as the big bad and specials showcasing the X-Men’s resident supergeniuses (X-MEN: SECOND COMING – REVELATIONS: BLIND SCIENCE #1) and a 3-issue miniseries chronicling an ill-timed side-battle in Limbo (X-MEN: SECOND COMING – REVELATIONS: BLIND SCIENCE #1), we may just have to wait awhile to find out if Hope Summer will we absolutely corrupted by her newfound power or not. See Shades of X to Come – May 2010 for more on those specials!

via CBR

Some fascinating hints of whats in store for the x-universe… BEWARE: Thar be spoilers below if you click the images and read the captions (including Pixie’s daddy – and he was one of my listed possible baby batter doners) Lots going on in the XU this spring. We have the return of mutant Hope in the X-Event known as Second Coming running through X-Men (Uncanny & Legacy), X-Factor, X-Force, and New Mutants (more on that in just a sec). Dazzler (new tale with half-sis Lois London as the big bad) and Emma Frost (another origin) specials, cryptic hints on an upcoming X-death, Daken vs Wolverine vs Romulus in Dark Wolverine! and Wolverine #900? wait a sec, I’ll need some help on that math cause that plain seems wrong. Maybe if you add up every issue of every comic that Logan EVER appeared in?

I have to admit that being a HUGE fan of DC’s recent zombies, I was unimpressed by Necrosha (still awaiting the final chapter but, meh) The BL characters in DC were by definition NOT really the characters but former Black Queen and wanna-be-goddess Selene’s unexplained magic/tech and the stories of the Necrosha arc just weren’t that scary or as horrific. Sure I’m happy to have Doug Ramsey back but with this new interpretation of Cypher’s abilities he’s not the same cannon-fodder mutant he once was.

via CBR

The launch of this new roster of the JLA is such a SNAFU. They revealed the end of Cry For Justice ahead of time (Prometheus destroys Star City). We’ve seen Starfire and Donna on the team before they were supposed to have accepted and now they want us to wonder if Dick Grayson will stay in its ranks? REALLY? James Robinson was a god while writing Starman back in the day so why does this smell bad? I’m SO tired of writers “dissasembling” a beloved team title. JLA needed focus, a purpose and better characterization NOT an influx of new blood. I think this title will be lost with this line-up and don’t see it lasting more than a few months unless something really interesting and surprising happens.

James Robinson and artist Mark Bagley present a team reeling from the events of JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE, as a member is tended to after the horrific events of the mini-series. And, will the new Batman join the ranks of the team? Or does he have more pressing issues in Gotham?

Looks like a pissed off Ollie is hooking up with villain-turned hero The Shade and is out for bloody fucking vengeance. The Shade is not a nice man, in fact he’s not really a man anymore at all, so I wouldn’t want to be on his bad side. This must be that dark road that we hear Green Arrow is taking now that Roy has been maimed.

I’m kind of all for the original kid sidekicks finally getting moved up the the big leagues, but it has to be logical and this just seems forced at best and downright unnatural at worst. Is it just me? I’m worried. Also who the hell are the sixth stringers on the cover? I think I recognize Dr. Impossible, BUT WHO ARE THE OTHER 2? And why bother bringing back a LAME RIPOFF character designed just so Ed Benes could show his mom an action figure of his creations?

via TheSource

If you are amused by people pointing out the ridiculousness of religion, then enjoy these choice videos from the BestOfAtheism YouTube channel.

God is SMART! But people… not so much. God speaks to Abraham about his latest great idea… Human Sacrifice!

Cthulhu vs. Christianity – a catchy little ditty paying homage to Lovecraft’s mythos

Praise the Lord! – cynical parody from fictional Christian Rock Group Hill$ong

The Bible is TRUE! And remember Thou shalt not suffer a homosexual adulterous fortune-telling dwarf to live. I think that must have been on that 3rd tablet Moses dropped.

If you enjoy these, then also check out EdwardCurrent’s YouTube channel for what seems to be a Stephen Colbertesque video caricature of a “Christian” managing to mock himself both intentionally and inadvertently while supposedly mocking Atheists. I couldn’t find any INTENTIONALLY funny videos from the other camp. But feel free to share links via comments if you know any.

I thought in honor of President’s Day I would share some images of the men who inspired the holiday…

George Washington as Zeus – this statue was sculpted by Horatio Greenough. In 1832 by the U.S. Congress commissioned a grand sculpture of George Washington based on the statue on the classical Greek statue of Zeus. The controversial statue arrived at the Capitol Rotunda nearly 10 years later. Many found the half-nude Washington statue offensive and it was removed and relocated. It is currently located on the second floor of the National Museum of American History in Washington D.C..

The Abraham Lincoln image is from salon.com’s less-than-stellar review of well-respected sex researcher C.A. Tripp’s posthumously published attempt drag Honest Abe out of the Presidential closet… The Intimate World of Abraham Lincoln. Somehow I doubt the painting was in the book.

I hope you all have a wonderful romantic Valentine’s Day! Enjoy this special holiday it only comes by once a year so enjoy the candy while you can.

Here’s a bit of historical proof that not only is Valentine’s Day as gay as the day is long, he’s also got a thing for GILFs. Also apparently Mr March is a stoner into inter-species romance. Who knew?

So have fun and share the love today!

PS… HAPPY VALENTINE‘S DAY 2010 POPAPATHY!!! I Love You!

via AnotherQueerJuBu

Lady Gaga Teeth… a film by Sergio Ceron – Not an official Haus of Gaga creation but there are some rumors that Lady Gaga funded the video or at least she approves of it. S&M beefcake dentist (who could use a better choreographer) kidnaps a shirtless vampire stud to torture him with…

I don’t really know what the point is other than as a cautionary tale… don’t mess with vampires, and if you do, use handcuffs not rope.

via WayOutWest

Until DC started getting uncomfortable with Millar using the names of 2 of their highest profile characters to sell his new concept, he’d bandying about the tagline “What if Batman was the Joker?” to describe his new creator-owned title… Nemesis. Published by Marvel with an ICON imprint.

“Nemesis” is a reversal of the Bruce Wayne or Tony Stark archetype. What if this genius billionaire was just this total shit, and the only thing that stood between him and a city was the cops? It’s Batman versus Commissioner Gordon, in a weird way. Or maybe a super-villain version of “Se7en.” A billionaire anarchist up against ordinary people. The Joker’s the best thing in the Batman movies, so this guy is a bit of an amalgamation of all the stuff we like.

The series will feature art by Steve McNiven. Millar’s recent love affair with Hollywood (or is it their love affair with him?) seems to be going strong. Shortly after the very first teaser images were up online his agent was hearing from Hollywood Producers that said “We’re really big fans of this book that Mark and Steve are doing. We really like it. Are the rights available?”

Lets just hope that this time around Millar can curb his tendancy to unnecessarily work hate epithets into his dialog. That was the only thing that I didn’t like about Kick-Ass. (even Romita Jr.’s art stopped bugging me by the end… but that DOESN’T qualify him to draw the Avengers).

via CBR